1 jeepney, 52 passengers: 5 killed

BAGUIO CITY , Philippines   â€“ Another highway tragedy occurred in the Cordilleras last Saturday night, leaving five persons dead and several others injured after an overloaded jeepney fell into a ditch in Licuan-Baay, Abra.

Authorities said the jeepney with 52 passengers and driven by Victor Pacio, 44, plunged into a meter-deep gully in Sitio Galitungan, Barangay Nalbuan at around 6:05 p.m.

Fourteen people were killed when a Florida Transport passenger bus plunged into a deep ravine last Friday in Bontoc, Mountain Province.

Sources said the latest accident involved a jeepney that had a maximum capacity of 22 passengers and a driver.

The passengers were beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) that attended a meeting of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Licuan-Baay.

Abra police director Senior Superintendent Benjamin Lusad said the victims had attended the DSWD meeting at Sitio Baquero and were on their way home to Barangay Mapisla when the brakes of the jeepney allegedly malfunctioned and dived into the canal.

DSWD-Cordillera identified the fatalities as sisters Noreen Claire Tugadi, 8, and Norie Mae Dimple, 10; Eslomin Colangan, 43; Melba Millare, and Veronica Tucio.

Lusad said the jeepney driver is now under the custody of the Licuan-Baay.

Most of injured victims were brought to various hospitals in Bangued, Abra and Vigan City.

According to DSWD-Cordillera director Leonardo Reynoso who immediately went to the area, the victims had just attended a 4Ps beneficiaries’ gathering in the town and were heading home when the mishap occurred.

Reynoso said social workers were deployed in all hospitals where the victims were brought for immediate assistance while also facilitating medical benefit assistance like the “No balance billing for PhilHealth members” because all 4Ps beneficiaries are enrolled in PhilHealth.With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Teddy Molina